Dem Congressman on ObamaCare delay: “I may as well retire”

posted at 10:12 am on January 15, 2010 by Ed Morrissey

Give yourself a moment to think about what Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) tells his House colleagues, as reported by Politico, during the negotiations on ObamaCare. Pomeroy, whose Senate colleague Byron Dorgan suddenly retired and left a safe seat ripe for a Republican takeover in November, tells his caucus that the long debate over ObamaCare has left him so vulnerable at home that he may as well join Dorgan for retirement — or more likely in both cases, a new career in Beltway lobbying. But what does that really say about Pomeroy’s performance as a Representative for his constituents — and that of the other Representatives quoted in this article?

Democrats moved closer to a final deal on health care reform Thursday — and for some vulnerable members, the end can’t come soon enough.

In an emotional talk with other Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee this week, North Dakota Rep. Earl Pomeroy said the protracted debate is hurting him so badly back home that he might as well retire if it drags on much longer.

A Democrat who attended the Ways and Means session said Pomeroy was “very angry” as he spoke about the delay. “Other folks were upset, but he was the maddest by far.”

“I believe Congress needs to resolve fairly quickly this protracted health care debate,” Pomeroy told POLITICO on Thursday. “We have a number of other issues that haven’t been able to get enough attention, because health care is taking up all the floor time, all of the attention. We need to move on.”

Pomeroy isn’t alone in this, although he’s the only one publicly acknowledging that his longtime sinecure in the House may be coming to an end. John Boccieri (D-OH), Jason Altmire (D-PA), and Steve Dreihaus (D-OH) all say the same thing — that they need to get this off the table so that they can focus on economic policy and job creation. They need to show their constituents that they’re paying attention to the real crisis in the US.

So what’s stopping them? Even the White House hinted at back-burnering the ObamaCare debate for a “hard pivot” to the economy. Instead, the Democrats continue to use all of their energy attempting to shove through Congress a bill so unpopular that almost every major pollster shows it under water, and has for months. Meanwhile, the economy continues to bleed jobs, and the next item on the Democratic agenda is a cap-and-trade bill that will kill even more of them.

Pomeroy will get retired from the House, along with more than a few of his caucus colleagues, because they stopped listening to their constituents. All they needed to do was to tell Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama to get a clue as to what constitutes the real economic crisis in the country. Instead of representing their constituents, they represented Pelosi and Obama — and the voters will replace them with candidates who understand their priorities better.

Breaking on Hot Air

Blowback

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Y’know, my mom had this sweater once, a knitted one, and it had this thread. I just couldn’t resist pulling on it and, once I did, the whole thing fell apart…..
.
I don’t know what made me think of that, but Pomeroy, Nancy doesn’t care about you unless you’re inside her sweater.

I wish you would, Pomery.
We in North Dakota are disgusted by you.
GTFOutta here.
I am sure tired of all the voters in cities like Fargo, Bismarck & Grand Forks voting these pukes in who are making decisions that help ruin my life.
City people bite. (not all of you ;)

Barack The Magnificent is throwing out all the stops (doorstops?) because if he heads into the State of the Union without this he will look like more of a fool to his base (Far Left) than he already does. And he’s more than willing to sacrifice the rest of the Congressional Dems to accomplish this.

Not a comment specifically about this thread but about that I just ‘read’ this story from your Headlines section. Seems that happens somewhat often. There will be a Headline story and then hours later a Hot Air take on the story. To be honest, I would just rather wait and read Ed and AP’s take on the story. You guys always give links to the original if I want more detail. Anyway, just saying, save the Headlines for topics you aren’t going to cover. Just my thoughts.

the voters will replace them with candidates who understand their priorities better.

And it will be too little, too late. Barring a miracle (or several), not only America’s health care system but it’s economy, and the relationship between its citizens and the government, is about to be fundamentally transformed. Just as Obama promised nearly a year ago. He and Pelosi have both acknowledged their willingness to sacrifice seats currently held by democrats in this year’s elections in order to accomplish this. Why? Because it will be IRREVERSIBLE. The transformation once set in motion will be unstoppable. America will never be the same again.

Anyway, just saying, save the Headlines for topics you aren’t going to cover. Just my thoughts.

Good day and keep up the great work.

Hot Air is my “must read” place to go for information.

b4itsover on January 15, 2010 at 10:23 AM

Some topics stay just in headlines, but the ones that are likely to generate lots of traffic and comments are likely to encourage ed or ap to create a main thread for them. Soon following that, the headlines post of the same article heads toward the back of the bus.

That’s the sound of a thousand buttholes slamming shut in the DNC. Coakley is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and this dem congressman from the Dakotas is talking about retiring. And, lemme guess, it has nothing to do with obama’s agenda…?

For all those congressmen and senators, including president Obama who thought we were not doing liberty, freedom, and capitalism correctly they are illustrating just how poorly America does socialism. I hope they come to their collective senses before the country implodes.

The biggest problem with politicians is that they don\’t view their position as a responsibility, they view it as their reward for winning the \”game\”.The \”game\” is to accumulate as much power and ability for themselves, and their colleagues. There are no rules, and you can tell who won by who is still in office next year.Most have no real understanding of their constituents wants and needs, only their own. they are pathological.

O/T: Anyone know if there are any good unionized Amish communities in Nebraska?

joedoe on January 15, 2010 at 10:28 AM

I hear that they were going to establish one on the grounds of the former Offutt AFB that Obama is going to close because Ben Nelson won’t vote for his bill….er, wait a minute, scratch that…..*newsflash* an American Indian reservation has offered 1 acre of land for the new Nebraska Amish Nation at the end of their sluice pit. The $300 million kickback Benny got will go towards putting up an electric /barbwire fence around it for you guys. Happy Camping!

“Pomeroy will get retired from the House, along with more than a few of his caucus colleagues, because they stopped listening to their constituents. All they needed to do was to tell Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama to get a clue as to what constitutes the real economic crisis in the country. Instead of representing their constituents, they represented Pelosi and Obama — and the voters will replace them with candidates who understand their priorities better.”

Lots of Amish near me! lol These bozos need to drop this bill and forget about cap and trade. I just got my electric bill yesterday…$341.00!!!! Thats for a month! This winter is not going to lower the cost either. ugh

Hey congressman believe or not most of your people that sent you to congress expect you to do and vote for what is best for them not whats best for Nancy,Obama or Harry.If you don,t know that why wait for Nov.Quit now.

“I believe Congress needs to resolve fairly quickly this protracted health care debate,” Pomeroy told POLITICO on Thursday. “We have a number of other issues that haven’t been able to get enough attention, because health care is taking up all the floor time, all of the attention. We need to move on.”

So, instead of fighting this potential career-ender, just get it passed, move on and hope his constituents forget about it? Excuse me if I feel no sympathy for Pomeroy or any other Rep who risks losing their seat over this debacle.

A breath of fresh air out of North Dakota. Pomeroy and Dorgan have a point here–why waste so much time and energy trying to force socialized medicine on the American people WHO DON’T WANT IT, when they really want JOBS?

Obama and the Democrats could have saved themselves lots of grief if they had listened to Hillary Clinton. She tried socialized medicine in 1993, and it cost Democrats the House in 1994. Those who don’t study history (Obama) are doomed to repeat it.

All these union members will be exempt from the Cadillac tax. Their generous salaries are paid by taxpayers, and they get better benefits than most private sector employees. Now, not only will we be paying their salaries and benefits, they will be exempt from a 40% tax on their benefits that the rest of us will be stuck paying (a tax which will eventually kill our own insurance plans).

These IDIOTS actually believe that if they pass ObamaCare, they’ll be able to SELL IT TO THE PUBLIC LATER.

I think only some of them believe this. I’m betting a bunch more see the writing on the wall. They want to give up on healthcare, at least for the time being, for the sake of their jobs and the rest of their agenda. I think this is what Pomeroy is really trying to say.

The rats are announcing they will not stay on board a sinking ship… too bad these were the fools who caused it to start sinking in the first place.

Now it is time to stop electing rats that are bad or worse, its been hard to tell what with all the wheeling and dealing going on by both parties. It is vermin removal time and the House needs a good cleaning and fumigation.

This clown obviously thinks the problem is that if the bill drags on, he won’t have enough time afterward to bring home the pork and other goodies he thinks will get him re-elected as usual. And he is right about that. This thing is so bad it was going to take a year of rehab for any vulnerable Democrat in a reasonably conservative district to cover it over. Once it went past November, these guys could see it was going to kill them this fall.

Pomeroy is just speaking the truth. This is a far-leftwing bill and the center-right Democrats are out of time to try to spin it or recover from helping to pass it before November.

Obama and the Democrats could have saved themselves lots of grief if they had listened to Hillary Clinton. She tried socialized medicine in 1993, and it cost Democrats the House in 1994. Those who don’t study history (Obama) are doomed to repeat it.

A GOP House in 2011 !!!

Steve Z on January 15, 2010 at 10:57 AM

It’s the Democrats’ Third Rail, just like Social Security has always been for Republicans. Donks always thought America was with them but they just didn’t have enough votes to pass a government takeover of health care. They completely misread these last two elections and thought they finally had their mandate for it. And now they are so far gone down the path they can’t seem to find their way back, no mate how much further into the weeds and brambles they get and how many cuts their members are bleeding from.

Micah 7 (New International Version) The Evil That People Do/Israel’s Misery (or ours at this point)
1 What misery is mine!
I am like one who gathers summer fruit
at the gleaning of the vineyard;
there is no cluster of grapes to eat,
none of the early figs that I crave.
2 The godly have been swept from the land;
not one upright man remains.
All men lie in wait to shed blood;
each hunts his brother with a net.
3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil;
the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,
the powerful dictate what they desire—
they all conspire together.
4 The best of them is like a brier,
the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.
The day of your watchmen has come,
the day God visits you.
Now is the time of their confusion.
5 Do not trust a neighbor;
put no confidence in a friend.
Even with her who lies in your embrace
be careful of your words.
6 For a son dishonors his father,
a daughter rises up against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.
Read this this morning and wanted to share.

Breaking… Obama announces new job creation initiative: Rebuilding Haiti. Reconstruction will be partnered with General Electric and financed by cuts in Medicare and Defense. Twenty million jobs to be created/saved.